Growing up to be a child Archives - Page 2 of 3

November 14, 2015

Becoming

Becoming a child is a gift from God; it stems from God’s grace. The challenge for us is not to strive to obey all the rules, practice all the right disciplines, and so somehow convince God that we are really like children. Rather it is to respond to God’s invitation and accept God’s grace. In particular, it is to recognise that God loves us unconditionally, just as a father loves his child, and even more so.

Growing up to be a child, p149-150

In this contemplative companion I use four ‘disciplines’ of cleansing, feeding, resting, and dressing to encourage building a regular rhythm of life into our spirituality.

Click here to go to the contemplative companion to Chapter 11 of Growing up to be a child.

November 8, 2015November 8, 2015

Inheritance and Idolatry

The common interpretation of the word ‘inheritance’ is ‘what you get from your parents when they die’. In reality, though, an inheritance is far more than the material possessions left to you by your parents. What a child inherits from her parents is richer, deeper, and more profound than a sum of money. Who you are and what you become is a product of your inheritance: both the genes that are passed on to you, setting your potential, and the environment that you grow up in – your parents’ attitudes and behaviour, your wider family, and your influences outside the family – all combine to mould you into what you finally become.

No matter how hard we may try not to, as parents we inevitably pass on some of our values to our children. If what we value is riches, a comfortable life with all we could need or wish for, that is what our children will inherit – along with the binding greed, the fear of loss, and the indifference to the needs of others that such idolatry brings with it. If what we value is achievement, status, and power, that is what our children will inherit – along with the low self-esteem, the constant striving to be good enough, the bullying, and the exploitation that come with that idolatry. If what we seek is pleasure and indulgence, an easy life, fun and action, and a wide circle of friends, we will pass that on to our children – along with the emptiness that so often sneaks in with this idolatry, the fear of pain, and the loneliness of absent love.

Growing up to be a child, chapter 10

In this latest contemplative guide to Growing up to be a Child, we reflect on what we have inherited from our parents, both good and bad, and what we in turn may be passing on to our children…

Click here to go to the latest contemplative guide to Chapter 10 of Growing up to be a Child.

October 31, 2015October 31, 2015

Image: a contemplative companion to chapter 9 of Growing up to be a child

Children love to play. That is perhaps one of the most striking aspects of childhood. Interestingly, their play largely seems to revolve around a combination of creativity, exploration, and relationship. If you give a child a box of bricks or a crayon, she will create something with them. If you leave a group of children in a garden, it probably won’t be long before they start playing hide-and-seek. And if you watch children singing nursery rhymes, you will see beautiful examples of relationship – even in the very simple act of joining hands in a circle, dancing round and round, and all falling down.

In this contemplative guide we explore what it means to be made in the image of God… through play

Click here to go to the contemplative companion to chapter 9

October 24, 2015October 24, 2015

Soul: a contemplative companion to chapter 8 of Growing up to be a child

In chapter eight of Growing up to be a child, I explore this deepest aspect of our humanity as a growing awareness of ourselves, of other people, of the world we live in, and of God. In each of these areas, I suggest that the call to ‘become like a little child’ is a call to a redeemed awareness:

Of ourselves as beloved children;
Of our relationship to others;
Of the wonder and beauty of the world in which we live;
And of our heavenly father as a God who loves each one of us unconditionally

In the contemplative companion, we use music and scripture to help still ourselves and encounter the beauty and mystery of our Creator.

Click here to go to the contemplative companion to chapter 8.

September 27, 2015

Attachment: a contemplative companion to chapter 7 of Growing up to be a child

Chapter seven of Growing up to be a child explores a child’s social development, how she learns to relate to other people, and in particular, the importance of attachment relationships:

In essence, attachment refers to a close emotional proximity between one person and another. We see this most clearly between a baby and her mother. The attachment bond provides security for the baby, along with emotional closeness that works both ways. Interestingly, attachment only really becomes significant in the context of separation. Indeed, the very purpose of attachment is to provide a secure base from which the developing child can explore the world; its ultimate goal is to enable independence. This is really quite important.

Continue reading “Attachment: a contemplative companion to chapter 7 of Growing up to be a child”

September 4, 2015September 4, 2015

Mind: a contemplative companion to Chapter 6 of Growing up to be a child

I believe in the sun, even when it is not shining;

I believe in love, even when I feel it not;

I believe in God, even when he is silent

cloud of unknowing

Take time, in stillness and silence to contemplate the mystery of a God of presence, light and love who so often seems distant, cold and silent.

Click here to go to the contemplative companion to Chapter 6 of Growing up to be a child

August 29, 2015

Strength: a contemplative companion to Chapter 5 of Growing up to be a child.

As a paediatrician, I am often referred young children who are delayed in their development, including those who are slow in learning to walk. When I am assessing a young child’s ability to stand and walk, I need to provide him with support and a stable base so he feels secure.

In this contemplative guide, we take time to reflect on a child’s journey in learning to walk and our own spiritual journeys. Through a prayer of examen or a meditation on scripture, we draw near to our loving creator, who is there to hold each one of us securely in his embrace, giving us the strength and courage to take those first, tentative steps.

Click here to go to the contemplative companion to Chapter 5 of Growing up to be a child.

August 23, 2015

Humanness: a contemplative companion to Chapter 4 of Growing up to be a child

This contemplation, based on chapter 4 of Growing up to be a child, explores what it means to be a human being.

In his gospel, Luke recounts how the child Jesus ‘grew in wisdom and stature and in favour with God and with the people.’ Luke’s description suggests four domains or areas in which children grow and develop into adults: mental development (‘wisdom’), physical development (‘stature’), spiritual development (‘favour with God’) and social development (‘favour with the people’)…

One of the most powerful aspects of Judaism and Christianity is that all these elements of our humanity are combined in our relationship to God. We are not just spiritual beings temporarily housed in physical bodies. We are human beings: physical, mental, social, and spiritual.

This is reflected in the great Shema prayer in Deuteronomy: ‘Shema Yisrael Adonai eloheinu Adonai ehad’[4] (‘Hear O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one’).[5] The prayer affirms the unity of God and his relationship to his people. It goes on to focus on our response to God: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.’[6] This response comes from the totality of our humanness.

Pause for a while; reflect; celebrate who you are – a wonderful person, body, mind, heart and soul.

Click here to go to the contemplative companion to Chapter 4 of Growing up to be a child.